Bankera Founders Accused of Misusing ICO Funds for Luxury Purchases
Bankera, a Lithuania-based cryptocurrency fintech firm, is facing intense scrutiny following serious allegations of misusing funds raised during its 2018 initial coin offering.
An investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) claims that nearly half of the €100 million raised was redirected toward acquiring a private bank and financing extravagant purchases.
ICO funds secretly routed through acquired bank
The report alleges that Bankera’s founders—Vytautas Kar
Digital asset custodian and crypto wallet solution provider BitGo has received a full operational license allowing its subsidiary BitGo Custody MENA FZE to provide virtual asset custody services and staking.
The license obtained from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), comes after BitGo received in-principle approval in early 2025. According to the press release BitGo Custody MENA FZE will use this license to offer its secure and efficient cold storage custody services to Instit
TRUMP Token Attracts Smart Money As Meme Coin Market Rebounds
TRUMP token leads in smart money net inflows as it continues to dominate the meme token recovery.
The Official Trump (TRUMP) token is gaining momentum from both smart money and whale investors, pushing its trading activity to the highest levels since its launch in January.
Smart money backs TRUMP with strong net inflows
Official Trump (TRUMP) has attracted significant attention, with $684K in net inflows from smart money wallets according to Nansen data. Trading volumes have surged between $
Nexo Reenters US Market Following Trump-Era Regulatory Changes
Nexo returns to the US market after a two-year absence, citing a more favorable regulatory environment driven by President Donald Trump’s administration.
The digital asset platform announced its re-entry at a private business event, highlighting its plans to offer a full suite of services to American clients once again.
Regulatory changes pave way for Nexo’s return
Nexo attributed its comeback to what it described as a major shift in the United States’ approach to crypto regulation. Co-founde
Pakistan Requests Extra $4 Billion Swap Line From China, Eyes Panda Bond Launch
Pakistan has urged China to grant an extra 10 billion yuan (approximately $1.4 billion), on top of its current swap line, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said, according to Reuters. Speaking during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group spring meetings in Washington, Aurangzeb noted that Pakistan already holds a 30 billion yuan currency swap with China but now wants to extend it to 40 billion yuan.
“From our perspective, getting to 40 billion renminbi would be a good place to
Tesla Hikes Prices in Canada, Urges Users to Buy US Cars Before Tariffs
Tesla has raised car prices across Canada this weekend, urging buyers to grab US-imported vehicles before new tariffs make them even more expensive. On Saturday, Tesla’s Canadian website posted a banner that said: “Explore pre-tariff priced inventory while supplies last.”
The move came after President Donald Trump announced a fresh 25% tariff last month on Canadian goods, including vehicles with parts made outside the US, even under the US-Mexico-Canada trade pact. Canada immediately hit back w
Trump’s WLF Secures Pakistan Partnership to Advance Blockchain, Stablecoins, and DeFi
Trump’s World Liberty Financial (WLF) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) in Islamabad to support blockchain development, stablecoin adoption, and decentralized finance (DeFi) across Pakistan.
This agreement marks one of the most significant partnerships between a US-based crypto platform and Pakistan’s emerging blockchain market.
Major Crypto Partnership Takes Shape
The signing event brought together a high-profile delegation from WLF, including Zachar
Loopscale Exploit Sees Solana DeFi Protocol Lose $5.8 Million
Solana DeFi protocol Loopscale has been hit by a major exploit, resulting in the loss of more than $5.8 million, about 12 percent of its Total Value Locked.
The platform confirmed it is still investigating the incident and working with law enforcement and security experts to track down the attackers and recover the stolen assets.
Pricing manipulation identified as cause of exploit
Loopscale delivered their report through X which detailed the hack outcome from an independent pricing problem w
Intel Experiences Rise in Old Chip Sale Amid Trade Tensions
Trade frictions between the US and China are reviving sales of Intel’s older personal computer and server chips as customers look for cheaper parts before threatened tariffs raise costs.
According to Reuters, Intel, whose biggest market is China, warned investors that the June quarter will be weak. Yet, it beat Wall Street’s first-quarter revenue forecasts because buyers have been stockpiling processors ahead of possible levies.
“In client, we are seeing strong demand on older-gen parts and in
AI meme tokens have shown resilience, with top assets gaining in the past week. The recent rally revived older hot assets, with some seeing almost double their values.
The AI narrative is recovering, led by the FARTCOIN rally. AI meme tokens regained value, for a total of $3.1 billion, after some of the top assets posted significant weekly gains. The AI token sector was almost frozen in Q1 after the initial hype, but some of the assets retained cult status and returned for new rallies.
Ohio Residents May Soon Pay Fees Using Cryptocurrencies
Ohio residents may soon have the option to pay their state fees using cryptocurrencies, as lawmakers propose integrating digital assets into government transactions. This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize financial practices and encourage innovation across the state.
State Treasurer Robert Sprague and Secretary of State Frank LaRose lead the effort to authorize digital asset payments. They believe offering cryptocurrency as a payment option will keep Ohio competitive and align
Arkansas City Cancels Crypto Mining Project Following Public Backlash
Arkansas City has officially abandoned its crypto mining project following strong opposition from residents and key stakeholders.
The decision was announced after significant public protests highlighting concerns about the proposed mining operation’s social, environmental, and economic impacts.
Public resistance forces mining project closure
Reports indicate that a private company planned to install high-powered servers to mine cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. However, the project faced widespr
China Set to Halt Tariffs on the United States As Central Bank Injects Cash Into the Economy
According to a Bloomberg report citing anonymous sources, China is preparing to pause its 125% tariffs on certain US imports, including medical equipment, ethane, and aircraft leasing.
The decision is being discussed as both economic pressure and trade friction intensify. Officials involved are also allegedly reviewing a full waiver for tariffs on plane leases, as part of a wider conversation around easing restrictions. This development came after comments made on Thursday by President Donald T
Michael Saylor Tips BlackRock ETFs to Be the Largest in the World
Executive chairman of Strategy Michael Saylor told a room packed with corporate executives and institutional investors that BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF will outgrow every ETF on the planet within ten years. He said it at the Bitcoin Standard Corporations Investor Day held in New York City on Thursday.
“IBIT is going to be the largest ETF in the world,” Saylor said during his talk. The ETF was launched on January 11, 2024, and presently, it boasts more than $53 billion in net assets. Within just sev
South Korea’s Ruling Party Supports New Bill to Boost Crypto Sector
South Korea’s conservative People Power Party (PPP) is preparing to introduce a new legislative proposal aimed at promoting the country’s digital asset sector.
Named the Digital Asset Promotion Basic Act, the bill is expected to be officially presented next Monday and is seen as a major shift in the government’s stance on cryptocurrency.
Push to lead in the digital asset economy
The People Power Party’s latest initiative seeks to establish South Korea as a global leader in blockchain and digi
Dubai’s Web 3.0 Momentum Accelerates As Global Stakeholders Gather for Unchained Summit
In the middle of the Gulf, something very deep is unfolding. Web 3.0 & Blockchain is no longer a buzzword; it’s a building block. And in Dubai, the future of Web 3.0 isn’t just coming; it’s being designed at pace. As crypto regulations come of age, institutional money pouring in, and industry giants establishing regional HQs, Dubai is quickly becoming the hub of the decentralized revolution.
Dubai, UAE – Tuesday, 22 April 2025: As the city gears up to host the much-awaited Unchained Summit at
Money Expo Abu Dhabi 2025: Where Finance Meets Innovation in the Heart of the UAE
Abu Dhabi, UAE – April 23-24, 2025 – The wait is over. Money Expo Abu Dhabi 2025 has officially opened its doors today at the prestigious Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, marking the beginning of a two-day financial celebration set to transform the regional investment and trading landscape.
With the spotlight shining brightly on the UAE’s capital, the expo has drawn a massive crowd of industry leaders, investors, traders, fintech pioneers, and financial institutions from across the globe – all r
Donald Trump Says Millionaire Tax Could Encourage Wealth Migration
United States President Donald Trump has warned on Wednesday that raising the top income tax rate to 40% could push wealthy Americans to leave the country.
“It would be very disruptive because the millionaires would leave,” he said to reporters in the Oval Office. “Other countries that have done it have lost a lot of people. They lose their wealthy people. That will be bad because the wealthy people pay the tax.”
Donald Trump’s comment comes as some GOP lawmakers consider a 40% annual tax on i
Google Chrome Will Be Valued At $50 Billion If Antitrust Lawsuit Orders a Sale
DuckDuckGo chief executive Gabriel Weinberg has informed Judge Amit Mehta that Google Chrome could ask “upwards of $50 billion” if regulators force Alphabet Inc. to divest the product from its search empire.
Federal antitrust hearings took an unexpected turn Wednesday when a chief rival put a hefty price on the Google browser. Weinberg highlighted the figure during the Justice Department’s three-week remedies hearing in Washington. Calling his number “back-of-the-envelope” math based on Chrome’
US Prosecutors Submit 200+ Victim Statements Ahead of Alex Mashinsky’s Sentencing in Celsius Case
US prosecutors have submitted more than 200 victim impact statements in the case against Alex Mashinsky, the former CEO and founder of Celsius Network.
The documents, totaling over 400 pages, describe the emotional and financial damage customers suffered after the crypto lending platform collapsed.
Sentencing set for May as DOJ presents victim evidence
Alex Mashinsky is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8 in Manhattan federal court. In a letter dated April 23, interim US Attorney Jay Clayton i